Vignetter.



C. VANTREES.

VIGNETTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

WITNESSES. I

W ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co" WASHINGTON. D. c,

CEVANUS VANTREES, 0F BUTLER, MISSOURI.

VIGNETTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Application filed September 17, 1914. Serial No. 882,197.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, CEVANUS VANTREES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Bates and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vignetters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to vignetters for use in connection with cameras, the principal object in view being to provide an improved device of this character by means of which the position of the vignette card may be shifted in accordance with the desires of the photographer without the necessity of his leaving his position at the rear of the camera.

To this end the invention aims to provide a structure the operating parts of which are 7 allarranged so as to be manipulated at one end of the device, and include provision for altering the elevation of the card support and its distance from the camera, as well as for all angular adjustments about either a vertical or a horizontal axis.

WVith the above general object in view, the invention comprises certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter specifically described with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawingFigure 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying the present improvements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same, on a larger scale, and partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line VV of Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary desired relation to the camera (not shown) by means of thumb screws 5 operating in connection with movable clamps 6. The bracket is provided with a disk portion 8, the opposite faces of which are frictionally embraced by a pair of disks 10 and 12 held in proper engagement by a pin l t and a thumb nut 16, between which nut and the adjacent disk 10 is interposed a coil spring 18. The disks 10 and 12 are designed to rotate together upon the pin 14 whenever the elevation of the vignette card is adjusted, said disks being locked together for such rotation by means of a. lug 20 on the disk 10 extending in between a pair of radial lugs 22 on the disk 12 (see Figs. 1 and G).

The disks 10 and 12 have recessed inner faces, leaving only their marginal portions in engagement with the disk portion 8, so

that further resilient engagement between said parts is thus obtained in addition to the action of the spring 18.

The disk 12'is provided with a pair of supporting loops or rings 24 for accommodating a longitudinallv sliding tubular member 26, which is of suflicient length to carry a vignette card supporting frame the proper distance in front of the camera and also project far enough in the opposite direction or to the rear to present the operating parts Within convenient reach of the photographer. The tubular member ,is prevented from turning on its own axis by a key 28 along a portion of its length for which notches 30 are provided in the rings or loops 24:. The key 28 is provided with a lug 29'at its front end for engagement with the front ring 24: and thereby limiting the movement of the tubular member 26 whenever it is turned into upright position for throwing the vignetter out of use. At the front end of the member 26 is a flange 32 from which projects laterally an arm 34-, the end of which arm is provided with a pin 36 for pivotally supporting a bar 38 constidetail of certain parts appearing in Fig. 5. tuting the lower member of the vignette Referring to the drawing, the device is'giggi'card supporting frame. Within loops 10 at supported upon a bracket member of appropriate dimensions, the arms 2 of which are adapted to be clamped to a table 4 in the opposite ends of the bar 38 is pivoted a wire framework 12 of suitable form and dimen sions for embracing the side edges of the vignette card 4 1, shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The bar 38 is provided with a slot 46 toward one of its ends for receiving a pin 18 at the outer end of an arm 50 projecting laterally from a disk 52 at the front end of a rod which is journalcd within the tubular member 26. This rod extends entirely through the member 26 and projects beyond the opposite end thereof, where the rod is threaded (see Fig. 2) and fitted with a handle member 56, which also telescopes over the adjacent end of the member 26 and is made sutliciently heavy to aid in counter-balancing the parts on the opposite side of the pivot pin 1 1. Coiled about the end of the rod 5 1 isa spring 58 the opposite ends of which abut against the interior of the handle member 56 and the rear end of the tubular member 26, thereby acting to hold the disk 52 in proper position against the flange 32 at the front end of the member 26. After being properly adjusted, a set collar 60 and a set nut 62 are clamped in position at the front and rear, respectively, of the handle member 56. By means of the mechanism just described it is now ob vious that the vignette card supporting frame may be readily rocked or tilted about the axis of the pin 36.

The parts whereby the inclination of the vignette card toward the front or the rear may be regulated will now be described. One of the loops or rings 24, and the flange 32, are provided with eyes 64: and 6 1 respectively for slidingly accommodating a rod 66, an additional guiding, and supporting loop 68 being also provided for said rod intermediate the eyes 64. At its rear end the rod. 66 is threaded and secured by clamp nuts 70 to a lug 72 on a sleeve 74 mounted slidingly on the tubular member 26, which sleeve has a rearwardly extending arm and finger engaging eye 76 whereby the rod may be manually operated. Within the sleeve 74 is mounted acurved leaf spring 78 to interpose slight friction to the movement of the sleeve, said spring having an upward extension whereby it is secured to the rod 66 by means of one of the clamp nuts70. The front end of the rod 66 is bent laterally to form an arm 79 approximately parallel to the arm 3t and engaging an elongated loop 80 provided on the frame work 42, this form of attachment being required to accommodate the angular movements of the frame work produced by the operation of the arm 50. It will thus be seen that by sliding the sleeve 74 along the tubular member 26 the frame-work 42 is rocked upon its bearings movement of the apparatus as a whole about the pin 14 provides for the necessary vertical movement of the card support for adjusting its elevation. Sliding the tubular member through its bearing loops 2% enables the dis tanceof the card from the camera to be readily varied. And by manipulation of the rods 54 and 66 the card frame may be rocked or tilted about either of two horizontal axes for bringing the card into the proper position to accord with the wishes of the operator. All these operations for the adjustment of the cards position are controlled entirely from the rear end of the apparatus, so that it is unnecessary for the operator to leave his position at the rear of the camera.

While the foregoing represents what is now conceived to be the preferred form of the apparatus, the right is reserved to such formal changes and modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims:

1. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket, a longitudinal member provided with a frictional pivotal connection with said bracket for movement about a horizon tal axis, said connection permitting longitudinal sliding of said member, a card support at one end of said member, and means operable from the other end of said member and having a pin and slot engagement wit said card support for tilting the latter about an axis parallel with said longitudinal memher.

2. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket, a longitudinal member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis, an arm projecting laterally from one end of said member, a card supporting frame pivoted at the end of said arm, and means operable from the other end of said member and having sliding engagement with said supporting frame for tilting the latter about an axis parallel with said longitudinal member.

3. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket, a longitudinal member mounted on said bracket, for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis,

an arm projecting laterally from one end of said member, card supporting frame pivoted at the end of said arm, and means connected with said supporting frame and having sliding and yielding frictional engagement longitudinally of said member for tilting said frame about an axis at right angles to said member.

4:. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket, a longitudinal member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis, an arm. projecting laterally from one end of said member, a card supporting frame pivoted at the end of said arm, a member mounted axially of said longitudinal member and provided with yielding means tending frictionally to hold said members against relative rotative movement, and a connection between said axially mounted member and said frame whereby rotation of the former will tilt the latter about an axis parallel to said longitudinal member.

A vignetter comprising, in combination, a bracket, a tubular member carried by said bracket, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod journaled in said member, and a second rod mounted slidingly on said member, said rods having connections to said card support for tilting the latter respectively about axes at right angles to each other, both of said rods being operable from the other end of said member and provided With means acting frictionally to resist movement of said rods relatively to said member.

6. A vignetter comprising, in combination, a bracket, a tubular member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod journaled in said member, and a second rod mounted slidingly on said member, said rods having connections to said card support for tilting the latter about axes at right angles to each other, both of said rods being operable from the other end of said member and provided with yielding means acting to resist move ment of said rods relatively to said member.

7. A vignetter comprising, in combination, a bracket, a tubular member carried by said bracket, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod journaled in said member, a second rod mounted slidingly on said member, frictional means interposed between said rods and member for slightly resisting relative movements between them, and connections between said rods and said card support for tilting the latter respectively about axes at right angles to each other, both of said rods being operable from the other end of said member.

8. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket having a disk portion, a pivot bolt carried by said disk portion, a pair of disks carried by said bolt on opposite sides of said disk portion and held yieldingly against the same, means connecting said disks for movement together, and card holding and adjusting mechanism carried by one of said disks and mounted for movement thereon at right angles to said bolt.

9. In a vignetter, the combination of a bracket having a disk portion, a pivot bolt carried by said disk portion, a pair of disks carried by said bolt on opposite sides of said disk portion and held yieldingly against the same, the inner faces of said disks being recessed and leaving their marginal portions only in contact With said disk portion, means connecting said disks for movement together, and card holding and adjusting mechanism mounted on the outer face of one of said disks.

10. A vignetter comprising a bracket having a disk portion, a disk yieldingly clamped to said disk portion for pivotal movement thereon, a pair of loops carried by said disk, a longitudinal card supporting and adjusting member slidably mounted in said loops and provided with a longitudinal key, said loops being provided with notches for receiving said key, and a stop lug at one end of said key and adapted to engage one of said loops for limiting the movement of said longitudinal member.

11. A vignetter comprising a bracket, a tubular member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod ournaled in said member and provided at one end with a connection to said card support for tilting the latter, the other end of said rod having a resilient friction element abutting the adjacent end of said tubular memher, and a handle member inclosing said friction element and the adjacent end of said tubular member and held in position thereon to bind said friction element against the end of said tubular member.

12. A vignetter comprising a bracket, a tubular member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod journaled in said member and provided at one end with a flange portion abutting the adjacent end of said member and with a connection to said card support for tilting the latter, the other end of said rod being provided with means for resiliently retracting said rod and thereby holding said flange portion in yielding engagement with said adjacent end of said tubular member.

13. A vignetter comprising a bracket, a longitudinal member carried by said bracket, a card support carried by one end of said member, a rod slidably mounted on said member and provided with a connection at one end to said card support for tilting the latter, a sleeve connected to the other end of said rod and embracing said member, said sleeve being provided with a handle for reciprocating the same, and a curved leaf spring carried by said rod adjacent the sleeve and extending in between the latter and said longitudinal member.

14. A vignetter comprising a bracket, a longitudinal member carried by said bracket, a card supporting frame carried by one end of said member and provided with an oblong loop extending horizontally at right angles to said member, and a rod operable from the other end of said member and carried slidably thereby, said rod having an arm having a slidable connection with said loop.

15. A vignetter comprising, in combination, a bracket, a longitudinal member mounted on said bracket for movement both longitudinally and pivotally about a horizontal axis, a card-support pivotally carried at one end-of said member, and combined means having yielding frictional engagement With said member and operable from the other end member.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of two wltnesses.

CEVANUS VANTREES.

Witnesses AUTHUR Fox, CONGER B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

